Positive-working photoresist employing a selected mixture of ethyl lactate and ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate as casting solvent

ABSTRACT

A light-sensitive composition comprising an admixture of: (a) at least one alkali-soluble binder resin; (b) at least one photoactive compound; (c) a sufficient amount of a solvent mixture comprising ethyl lactate and ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate to dissolve (a) and (b); wherein the amount of said binder resin is from about 60% to 95% by weight, the amount of said photoactive compound is from about 5% to about 40% by weight, both based on the total solids content of said light-sensitive composition, and wherein the weight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-epoxy propionate is from about 30:70 to 80:20.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to light-sensitive compositions useful aspositive-working photoresist compositions having a selected castingsolvent mixture. In particular, the present invention relates tolight-sensitive compositions useful as positive-working photoresistcompositions having an alkali-soluble binder resin and o-quinonediazidephotosensitizers dispersed throughout a casting solvent mixture of ethyllactate and ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate. Furthermore, the presentinvention relates to the process of coating, imaging and developing withthese positive-working photoresist compositions.

2. Description of Related Art

Photoresist compositions are used in microlithographic processes formaking miniaturized electronic components such as in the fabrication ofintegrated circuits and printed wiring board circuitry. Generally, inthese processes, a thin coating or film of a photoresist composition isfirst applied to a substrate material, such as silicon wafers used formaking integrated circuits or aluminum or copper plates of printedwiring boards. The coated substrate is then baked to evaporate anycasting solvent in the photoresist composition and to fix the coatingonto the substrate. The baked coated surface of the substrate is nextsubjected to an image-wise exposure of radiation. This radiationexposure causes a chemical transformation in the exposed areas of thecoated surface. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, electron beam andX-ray radiant energy are radiation types commonly used today inmicrolithographic processes. After this image-wise exposure, the coatedsubstrate is treated with a developer solution to dissolve and removeeither the radiation-exposed or the unexposed areas of the coatedsurface of the substrate. In some processes, it is desirable to bake theimaged resist coating before this developing step. This intermediatestep is sometimes called post-exposure bake or PEB.

There are two types of photoresist compositions--negative-working andpositive-working. Examples of both types of photoresists are welldocumented in "Introduction to Microlithography", L. F. Thomson, C. G.Willson, and M. J. Bowden, Eds., ACS Symposium Series, 1983.

When negative-working photoresist compositions are exposed image-wise toradiation, the areas of the resist composition exposed to the radiationbecome less soluble to a developer solution (e.g. a cross-linkingreaction occurs) while the unexposed areas of the photoresist coatingremain relatively soluble to a developing solution. Thus, treatment ofan exposed negative-working resist with a developer solution causesremoval of the non-exposed areas of the resist coating and the creationof a negative image in the photoresist coating, and thereby uncovering adesired portion of the underlying substrate surface on which thephotoresist composition was deposited. On the other hand, whenpositive-working photoresist compositions are exposed image-wise toradiation, those areas of the resist composition exposed to theradiation become more soluble to the developer solution (e.g. arearrangement reaction occurs) while those areas not exposed remainrelatively insoluble to the developer solution. Thus, treatment of anexposed positive-working resist with the developer solution causesremoval of the exposed areas of the resist coating and the creation of apositive image in the photoresist coating. Again, a desired portion ofthe underlying substrate surface is uncovered.

Positive-working photoresist compositions are currently favored overnegative-working resists because the former generally have betterresolution capabilities and pattern transfer characteristics.

In some instances, it is desirable to heat treat the remaining resistlayer after the development step and before the following etching stepto increase its adhesion to the underlying substrate and its resistanceto etching solutions.

After this development operation, the now partially unprotectedsubstrate may be treated with a substrate-etchant solution or plasmagases. This latter technique is called plasma etching or dry etching.The etchant solution or plasma gases etch the portion of the substratewhere the photoresist coating was removed during development. The areasof the substrate where the photoresist coating still remains areprotected and, thus, an etched pattern is created in the substratematerial which corresponds to the photomask used for the image-wiseexposure of the radiation.

Later, the remaining areas of the photoresist coating may be removedduring a stripping operation, leaving a clean etched substrate surface.

The solvents most commonly used in the formulation of commercialpositive photoresists are glycol ethers and glycol ether esters such as2-methoxyethanol (2-ME), 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE), and their acetates[ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (EGMEA)]. Some commercialphotoresists contain a mixture of glycol ethers or ether acetates withxylene, and n-butyl acetate. Evidence has been disclosed, however, thatsolvents or solvent mixtures containing these glycol ether derivativeshave significant toxic effects on the reproductive organs of both maleand female test animals at low exposure levels. While no conclusive datayet exists, similar effects may occur with humans. Suitable solventswhich possess all of the desired properties, i.e., solubility, wetting,and low toxicity, are, however, difficult to find. As the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) concluded in a recent investigation on the useof glycol ethers as solvents, "the electronics industry may have severeproblems in obtaining feasible substitutes," (CHEMICAL WEEK, p. 7, June9, 1986).

In response to this evidence, many photoresist manufacturers haveintroduced or are working on "EGMEA-free safe solvent" photoresistproducts. The solvent alternatives include "propylene glycol monomethylether acetate (PGMEA), ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate (EEP), ethyl lactate,cyclopentanone N-hexanol and bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (Diglyme)"(SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL April 1988 pages 132 and 133).

While ethyl lactate is an effective safe casting solvent withphotoresists containing novolak-type binder resins ando-quinonediazide-type photosensitizers, it has been found that when suchethyl lactate-containing photoresists are spin coated onto a relativelylarge substrate (e.g. 6 inches or greater silicon wafers), thephotoresist film resulting after softbake is found to exhibit adeficiency with regard to coating uniformily. Specifically, there existsa variability in film thickness more than conventional EGMEA basedresists. Such resulting uneven cast film may cause unacceptablelithographic properties. Accordingly, there is a need for an improvedcasting solvent over pure ethyl lactate which does not have this unevenspreading problem.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to light-sensitivecompositions useful as a positive-working photoresist, comprising anadmixture of:

(a) at least one alkali-soluble binder resin, preferably a phenolicnovolak resin;

(b) at least one photoactive compound, preferably a photoactiveo-quinonediazide compound; and

(c) a sufficient amount of a solvent mixture comprising ethyl lactateand ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate to dissolve (a) and (b);

wherein the amount of said binder resin(s) being about 60% to 95% byweight, the amount of said photoactive compound(s) being from about 5%to about 40% by weight based on the total solids content [i.e. excludingthe solvent mixture (c)] of said light-sensitive composition, andwherein the weight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-ethoxy propionateis from about 30:70 to 80:20.

Still further, the present invention also encompasses the process ofcoating substrates with these light-sensitive compositions and thenimaging and developing these coated substrates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, the photosensitive compositions of the presentinvention have three critical ingredients; at least one alkali-solublebinder resin; at least one photoactive compound; and the selectedsolvent mixture mentioned above.

Any or all alkali-soluble binder resins commonly employed inpositive-working photoresist compositions may be used herein. Thepreferred class of binder resins are phenolic novolak resins. Examplesof these include phenolic-formaldehyde resins, cresol-formaldehyderesins, and phenol-cresol-formaldehyde resins commonly used in thephotoresist art. Polyvinylphenol resins may also be suitable.

Any and all photoactive compounds (sometimes called photosensitizers)which make light-sensitive mixtures useful in positive-workingphotoresists may be employed herein.

The preferred class of photoactive compounds is o-quinonediazidecompounds, particularly esters derived from polyhydric phenols,alkyl-polyhydroxyphenones, aryl-polyhydroxyphenones, and the like whichcan contain up to six or more sites for esterification. The mostpreferred o-quinonediazide esters are derived from2-diazo-l,2-dihydro-l-oxo-naphthalene-4-sulfonic acid and2-diazo-l,2-dihydro-1-oxo-naphthalene-5-sulfonic acid.

Specific examples include resorcinol1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid esters; pyrogallol1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters,1,2-quinonediazidesulfonic acid esters of(poly)hydroxyphenyl alkylketones or (poly)hydroxyphenyl aryl ketones such as 2,4-dihydroxyphenylpropyl ketone 1,2-benzoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid esters,2,4,dihydroxyphenyl hexyl ketone 1,2-naphthoquinone-diazide-4-sulfonicacid esters, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters, 2,3,4-trihydroxyphenylhexyl ketone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid esters,2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acidesters, 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters,2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acidesters, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphthoquinone-diazide-5-sulfonic acid esters,2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzo 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acidesters, 2,3,4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphtho-quinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters,2,3,4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonicacid esters, 2,2',3,4',6'1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acidesters and 2,3,3',4,4',5'-hexahydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters;1,2-quinonediazidesulfonic acid esters ofbis[(poly)hydroxyphenyl]alkanes such as bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)methane1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid esters,bis(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methane 1,2-naphthoquinone-diazide-5-sulfonicacid esters, bis(2,3,4-trihydroxy-phenyl)methane1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters,2,2-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)propane 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonicacid esters, 2,2-bis(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propane1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters and2,2-bis(2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)propane1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters. Besides the1,2-quinonediazide compounds exemplified above, there can also be usedthe 1,2-quinonediazide compounds described in J. Kosar, "Light-SensitiveSystems", 339-352 (1965), John Wiley & Sons (New York) or in S.DeForest, "Photoresist", 50, (1975), MacGraw-Hill, Inc. (New York). Inaddition, these materials may be used in combinations of two or more.Further, mixtures of substances formed when less than all esterificationsites present on a particular polyhydric phenol,alkyl-polyhydroxyphenone, arylpolyhydroxyphenone and the like havecombined with o-quinonediazides may be effectively utilized in positiveacting photoresists.

Of all the 1,2-quinonediazide compounds mentioned above,1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- andhexa-esters of polyhydroxy compounds having at least 2 hydroxyl groups,i.e. about 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, are most preferred.

Among these most preferred 1,2-naphthoquinone-5-diazide compounds are2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acidesters, 2,3,4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid esters, and2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonicacid esters. These 1,2-quinonediazide compounds may be used alone or incombination of two or more.

Another preferred class of photoactive o-quinonediazide compounds isprepared by condensing spirobiindane or spirobichroman derivatives with1,2-naphthoquinone-diazido-5-sulfonyl chloride or1,2-naphothoquione-diazido-4-sulfonyl chloride or a mixture thereof tomake compounds of formula (A) shown below: ##STR1## wherein R₁ to R₈ areindependently hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkylgroup, an alkoxy group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, an amino group,a monoalkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, an acylamino group, analkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, an alkylsulfamoyl group,an arylsulfamoyl group, a carboxyl group, a cyano group, a nitro group,an acyl group, an alkyloxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, anacyloxy group, --OD or ##STR2## (wherein R is hydrogen, or an alkylgroup, and D is a 1,2-naphthoquinonediazido-5-sulfonyl group or a1,2-naphthoquinonediazido-4-sulfonyl group); R₉ to R₁₂ are independentlyhydrogen or a lower alkyl group; and Z is oxygen or a single bond (i.e.the latter forms a five-member ring); provided that at least one of R₁to R₈ is --OD or ##STR3##

The halogen represented by R₁ to R₈ in the formula (A) is preferablychlorine, bromine or iodine.

The alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyland tert-butyl.

The alkoxy group is preferably an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbonatoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, hydroxyethoxy, propoxy, hydroxypropoxy,isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy and tert-butoxy.

The aralkyl group is preferably a benzyl group, a phenethyl group or abenzhydryl group.

The aryl group is preferably phenyl, tolyl, hydroxyphenyl or naphthyl.

The monoalkylamino group is preferably a monoalkylamino group having 1to 4 carbon atoms, such as monomethylamino, monoethylamino,monopropylamino, monoisopropylamino, mono-n-butylamino,monoisobutylamino, mono-sec-butylamino, or mono-tert-butylamino.

The dialkylamino group is preferably a dialkylamino group with each akylsubstituent having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as dimethylamino,diethylamino, dipropylamino, di-isopropylamino, di-n-butylamino,di-iso-butylamino, di-sec-butylamino, or di-tert-butylamino.

The acylamino group is preferably an aliphatic group-substitutedacylamino group such as acetylamino, propionylamino, butylamino,isobutylamino, isovalerylamino, pivaloylamino or valerylamino, or anaromatic group-substituted acylamino group such as benzoylamino ortoluoylamino.

The alkylcarbamoyl group is preferably an alkylcarbamoyl group having 2to 5 carbon atoms, such as methylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl,propylcarbamoyl, isopropylcarbamoyl, n-butylcarbamoyl,isobutylcarbamoyl, sec-butylcarbamoyl or tert-butylcarbamoyl.

The arylcarbamoyl group is preferably phenylcarbamoyl or tolylcarbamoyl.

The alkylsulfamoyl group is preferably an alkylsulfamoyl group having 1to 4 carbon atoms, such as methylsulfamoyl, ethylsulfamoyl,propylsulfamoyl, isopropylsulfamoyl, n-butylsulfamoyl,sec-butylsulfamoyl, or tert-butylsulfamoyl.

The arylsulfamoyl group is preferably phenylsulfamoyl or tolylsulfamoyl.

The acyl group is preferably an aliphatic acyl group having 1 to 5carbon atoms, such as formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl,valeryl, isovaleryl or pivaloyl, or an aromatic acyl group, such asbenzoyl, toluoyl, salicyloyl or naphthoyl.

The alkyloxycarbonyl group is preferably an alkyloxycarbonyl grouphaving 2 to 5 carbon atoms, such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,propoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, n-butoxycarbonyl,isobutoxycarbonyl, sec-butoxycarbonyl or tert-butoxycarbonyl.

The aryloxycarbonyl group is preferably phenoxycarbonyl.

The acyloxy group is preferably an aliphatic acyloxy group having 2 to 5carbon atoms, such as acetoxy, propionyloxy, butyryloxy, isobutyryloxy,valeryloxy, isovaleryloxy or pivaloyloxy, or an aromatic acyloxy groupsuch as benzoyloxy, toluoyloxy or naphthoyloxy.

The lower alkyl group represented by R₉ to R₁₂ in the formula (A) ispreferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl,ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl.

In the formula (A) above, R₁ to R₈ are preferably a hydrogen atom, ahydroxy group or an --OD group wherein D is as defined above, and R₉ toR₁₂ are preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R is preferably analkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as a methyl ethyl,n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl or t-butyl group.

The proportion of the photoactive compound in the light-sensitivemixture may range from about 5% to about 40%, more preferably from about10% to about 25% by weight of the non-volatile (e.g. non-solvent)content of the light-sensitive mixture. The proportion of total binderresin of this present invention in the light-sensitive mixture may rangefrom about 60% to about 95%, preferably, from about 75% to 90% byweight, of the non-volatile (e.g. excluding solvents) content of thelight-sensitive mixture

The binder resin and photoactive compound or sensitizer are dissolved inthe solvent mixture mentioned above to facilitate their application tothe substrate. The preferred amount of solvent may be from about 50% toabout 500%, or higher, by weight, more preferably, from about 100% toabout 400% by weight, based on combined resin and photoactive compoundweight. Preferably, the weight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate is from about 40:60 to 75:25; more preferably, from about50:50 to 70:30.

These light-sensitive mixtures may also contain, besides the resin,photoactive compound, and solvent, conventional photoresist compositioningredients such as other resins, actinic and contrast dyes,anti-striation agents, speed enhancers, and the like. These additionalingredients may be added to the binder resin, photoactive compound andsolvent mixture solution before the solution is coated onto thesubstrate.

Actinic dyes help provide improved critical dimension control on highlyreflective surfaces by inhibiting back scattering of light off thesubstrate. This back scattering causes the undesirable effect of opticalnotching, especially on a substrate topography. Examples of actinic dyesinclude those that absorb light energy at approximately 400-460 nm [e.g.Fat Brown B (C.I. No. 12010); Fat Brown RR (C.I. No. 11285);2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthoquinone (C.I. No. 75480) and Quinoline Yellow A(C.I. No. 47000)] and those that absorb light energy at approximately300-340 nm [e.g. 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO-Chem. Abs. Reg. No. 92-71-7)and 2-(4-biphenyl)-6-phenyl-benzoxazole (PBBO-Chem. Abs. Reg. No.17064-47-0)]. The amount of actinic dyes may be up to 10% weight levels,based on the combined weight of resin and photoactive compound.

Contrast dyes enhance the visibility of the developed images andfacilitate pattern alignment during manufacturing. Examples of contrastdye additives that may be used together with the light-sensitivemixtures of the present invention include Solvent Red 24 (C.I. No.26105), Basic Fuchsin (C.I. 42514), Oil Blue N (C.I. No. 61555) andCalco Red A (C.I. No. 26125) up to 10% weight levels, based on thecombined weight of resin and photoactive compound.

Anti-striation agents level out the photoresist coating or film to auniform thickness. Anti-striation agents may be used up to five % weightlevels, based on the combined weight of resin and photoactive compound.One suitable class of anti-striation agents is non-ionicsilicon-modified polymers. Non-ionic surfactants may also be used forthis purpose, including, for example, nonylphenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol; octylphenoxy (ethyleneoxy) ethanol; and dinonyl phenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol.

Speed enhancers tend to increase the solubility of the photoresistcoating in both the exposed and unexposed areas, and thus, they are usedin applications where speed of development is the overridingconsideration even though some degree of contrast may be sacrificed,i.e. in positive resists while the exposed areas of the photoresistcoating will be dissolved more quickly by the developer, the speedenhancers will also cause a larger loss of photoresist coating from theunexposed areas. Speed enhancers that may be used include, for example,picric acid, nicotinic acid or nitrocinnamic acid at weight levels of upto 20%, based on the combined weight of resin and sensitizer.

The prepared light-sensitive resist mixture, can be applied to asubstrate by any conventional method used in the photoresist art,including dipping, spraying, whirling and spin coating. Spin coating isthe most preferred method today. When spin coating, for example, theresist mixture can be adjusted as to the percentage of solids content inorder to provide a coating of the desired thickness given the type ofspinning equipment and spin speed utilized and the amount of timeallowed for the spinning process. Suitable substrates include silicon,doped silicon, aluminum, polymeric resins, silicon dioxide, dopedsilicon dioxide, silicon resins, gallium arsenide, aluminum galliumarsenide, titanium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium silicides,tantalum silicides, molybdenum silicides, tungsten silicides, siliconnitride, copper, polysilicon, ceramics and aluminum/copper mixtures.

The photoresist coatings produced by the above described procedure areparticularly suitable for application to silicon/silicon dioxide-coatedor polysilicon or silicon nitride wafers such as are utilized in theproduction of microprocessors and other miniaturized integrated circuitcomponents. An aluminum/aluminum oxide wafer can be used as well. Thesubstrate may also comprise various polymeric resins especiallytransparent polymers such as polyesters and polyolefins. The photoresistformulations are advantageous over conventional pure-ethyl lactatesolvent-containing and other "safe solvents" when applied to relativelylarge substrates (e.g. silicon wafers having at least a 6 inchdiameter).

After the resist solution is coated onto the substrate, the coatedsubstrate is baked at approximately 70° C. to 125° C. untilsubstantially all the solvent has evaporated and only a uniformlight-sensitive coating remains on the substrate.

The coated substrate can then be exposed to radiation, especiallyultraviolet radiation, in any desired exposure pattern, produced by useof suitable masks, negatives, stencils, templates, and the like.Conventional imaging process or apparatus currently used in processingphotoresist-coated substrates may be employed with the presentinvention. In some instances, a post-exposure bake (PEB) is used toenhance image quality and resolution.

The exposed resist-coated substrates are next developed in an aqueousalkaline developing solution. If immersion developed, the developersolution is preferably agitated, for example, by nitrogen gas agitation.Examples of aqueous alkaline developers include aqueous solutions oftetramethylammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,ethanolamine, choline, sodium phosphates, sodium carbonate, sodiummetasilicate, and the like. The preferred developers for this inventionare aqueous solutions of either alkali metal hydroxides, phosphates orsilicates, or mixtures thereof, or tetraalkylammonium hydroxides.

Alternative development techniques such as spray development or puddledevelopment, or combinations thereof, may also be used.

The substrates are allowed to remain in the developer until all of theresist coating has dissolved from the exposed areas. Normally,development times from about 10 seconds to about 3 minutes are employed.

After selective dissolution of the coated wafers in the developingsolution, they are preferably subjected to a deionized water rinse tofully remove the developer or any remaining undesired portions of thecoating and to stop further development. This rinsing operation (whichis part of the development process) may be followed by blow drying withfiltered air to remove excess water. A post-development heat treatmentor bake may then be employed to increase the coating's adhesion andchemical resistance to etching solutions and other substances. Thepost-development heat treatment can comprise the baking of the coatingand substrate below the coating's thermal deformation temperature.

In the manufacture of microcircuitry units, the developed substrates maythen be treated with a plasma gas etch employing conventional plasmaprocessing parameters (e.g., pressure and gas flow rates) andconventional plasma equipment.

Later, the remaining areas of the photoresist coating may be removedfrom the etched substrate surface by conventional photoresist strippingoperations.

The present invention is further described in detail by means of thefollowing Examples. All parts and percentages are by weight unlessexplicitly stated otherwise.

EXAMPLE 1 AND COMPARISONS 1-6 Components

The specific components used in the following formulations are describedherein.

Photoactive Component (PAC) is formed by the reaction of2,2',3,3'-tetrahydro-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi(1H-indene)-5,5',6,6(CAS Registry No. 32737-33-0) with6-diazo-5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-l-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride as described inJapanese Patent Application 62-233292 filed Sept. 17, 1987 and thecorresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,739, which are both assigned to FujiPhoto Film Co. Ltd.

Novolak resin (binder) is formed by the reaction of 40 grams m-cresoland 60 grams p-cresol with 54 grams of 37% aqueous formalin in thepresence of 0.05 grams of oxalic acid as catalyst. Novolak is isolatedafter heating at 150° C. and removing unreacted monomers and water atreduced pressure.

Various solvents as listed in Table 1 were used in the individualformulations.

Formulations

Example 1 and Comparison Examples 1-5 were made by adding the componentslisted in Table 1 to a round bottle which was placed on a roller mill toagitate. Agitation was continued until complete solution, as determinedby visual inspection, waas attained. Resist solutions were passedthrough a 0.2 micron filter to remove particulates and gels.

Comparison Example 6 was WAYCOAT HPR 204 (available from Olin HuntSpecialty Products Inc.) which has ethyl cellosolve acetate (EGMEA),xylene and butyl acetate as its solvent.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Formulation Composition                                                                 Formulation                                                         Ingredients E-1    C-1     C-2  C-3   C-4  C-5                                ______________________________________                                        Photoactive 5.2    5.2     5.2  5.2   5.2  5.2                                Component                                                                     Novolak binder                                                                            20.8   20.8    20.8 20.8  20.8 20.8                               Ethyl lactate                                                                             48.1   74.0    48.1 48.1  48.1 0                                  Ethyl 3-ethoxy                                                                            25.9   0       0    0     0    0                                  propionate                                                                    Diacetone   0      0       25.9 0     0    0                                  Alcohol                                                                       Cyclohexanone                                                                             0      0       0    25.9  0    0                                  Amyl Acetate                                                                              0      0       0    0     25.9 0                                  Ethyl       0      0       0    0     0    74.0                               Cellosolve                                                                    Acetate (EGMEA)                                                               ______________________________________                                    

Solution Viscosity Testing

The solution viscosity of Example 1 and Comparison Examples 1-6 wasdetermined using a Brookfield LTV Viscometer. The results obtained aresummarized in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Solution Viscosity                                                            Sample      Viscosity (cps)                                                   ______________________________________                                        E-1         30.9                                                              C-1         43.7                                                              C-2         50.3                                                              C-3         35.6                                                              C-4         26.1                                                              C-5         24.7                                                              C-6         19.0                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Solution Viscosity is an important parameter in obtaining uniformcoating on integrated circuit substrates such as silicon wafers.

Evaporation Rate Data

The evaporation rate data relative to butyl acetate (1.00) for thesolvent/co-solvent systems employed in formulating Example 1 andComparative Examples 1-5 are enumerated below in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Solvent Composition & Evaporation Rate                                                   Solvents(s)    Evap. Rate                                          Example    Wt. Ratio      (nBuAc = 1.0)                                       ______________________________________                                        E-1        ethyl lactate (65)                                                                           0.29                                                           ethyl 3-ethoxy 0.12                                                           propionate (35)                                                    C-1        ethyl lactate (100)                                                                          0.29                                                C-2        ethyl lactate (65)                                                                           0.29                                                           diacetone alcohol (35)                                                                       0.12                                                C-3        ethyl lactate (65)                                                                           0.29                                                           cyclohexanone(65)                                                                            0.29                                                C-4        ethyl lactate (65)                                                                           0.29                                                           amyl acetate (35)                                                                            0.40                                                C-5        ethyl cellosolve                                                                             0.20                                                           acetate (100)                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The evaporation rate in most cases is directly proportional to solventrelease from the cast film. A close inspection of Tables 2 and 3revealed the ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate is the only co-solvent which,when combined with ethyl lactate, exhibits both properties desirable forgood coating uniformity, reduced solution viscosity and lowerevaporation rate.

Coating Uniformity Testing

The photoresist samples defined by Example 1 and Comparison Examples 1-6were coated on 150 mm (6 inch) bare silicon wafers on a Silicon ValleyGroup (SVG), Inc. MOdel 8626 Photoresist Coater. A dynamic dispenseprogram was optimized for HPR 204, Comparative Example 6, as control.The optimized HPR 204 coat program was then used to coat the otherresist samples (see Table 4). All resists were pump dispensed toeliminate any inconsistency due to hand dispense technique. The coatedwafers were softbaked for 50 seconds at 110° C. on the SVG Inc. Model8636 Hot Plate Oven.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Optimized HPR 204 Coating Program                                             Coat Cycle                                                                    ______________________________________                                                                  Time   Speed Acc                                    Event   Operation  Arm    (sec)  (rpm) (rpm)                                  ______________________________________                                        1       spin       1      3      1,000 20,000                                 2       dispense   2      --     1,000 20,000                                 3       spin       --     30     4,500 20,000                                 4       end        --     0         0     0                                   ______________________________________                                        Arm 1                                                                         Event       Operation    Time   Step                                          ______________________________________                                        1           traverse     0      000                                           2           end          0      000                                           ______________________________________                                        Arm 2                                                                         Event       Operation    Time   Step                                          ______________________________________                                        1           traverse     3      000                                           2           home         0      000                                           3           end          0      000                                           ______________________________________                                    

A Prometrix Spectramap Model SM200/e film thickness mapping system wasused for all film thickness uniformity. Coating uniformity was definedas the range (film thickness_(max) minus film thickness_(min))determined during forty nine film thickness measurements taken acrossthe diameter of the wafer. Coating uniformity data is summarized forfive wafers per example in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Coating Uniformity Data                                                              Softbake Film Thickness (angstroms)                                    Example  Mean          Std. Dev.                                                                              Range                                         ______________________________________                                        E-1      11,568        38       137                                           C-1      13,050        55       184                                           C-2      13,643        85       320                                           C-3      13,369        45       157                                           C-4*     12,796        37       137                                           C-5      11,452        31       114                                           C-6      12,678        37       125                                           ______________________________________                                         *Coating exhibited severe striations.                                    

The control for the coating uniformity evaluation was C-6, HPR 204. Withthe exception for the HPR 204 which has a different PAC and binder, thecoating range correlated well with the solution viscosity. Coating C-2with diacetone alcohol as the co-solvent gave the poorest coatings andhad the highest solution viscosity (50.3) cps. Coating C-4 had thelowest solution viscosity (26.1 cps) excluding the control, C-6, and wasjudged, as noted above, not to be suitable due to severe striations inthe coated film. Unsuitability was theorized to be caused by the highevaporation rate of the co-solvent, amyl acetate (0.40) causing the filmto "set up" too quickly. Coating C-5, with its use of a single solvent,ethyl cellosolve acetate (EGMEA) gave the best coating uniformity. Thisresult was consistent with the lower solution viscosity (24.7 cps) andthe lower evaporation rate (0.20). The toxicology profile of EGMEA(documentated teratogenicity) was judged to an unattractive feature ofthis coating system. Coating E-1 was judged to be the best all aroundsystem when the toxicology profile of the two solvents, ethyl lactateand ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate, was factored in.

EXAMPLE 2 AND COMPARISON 7 Lithographic Testing

Example 2 was formulated by the same method as described in thepreceding formulation section with the following ingredients:photoactive component 5.2 grams, novolak binder 20.8 grams, ethyllactate 51.8 grams, ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate 22.2 grams. ComparativeExample 7 was WAYCOAT FH 6100, a positive working EGMEA basedphotoresist sold by Fuji Hunt Electronic Technologies, Tokyo, Japan.Both Example 2 and Comparative Example 7 were evaluated lithographicallyaccording to the following procedure.

Several 100 mm (4 inch wafers) silicon dioxide (5000 angstrom) wafersthat were vapor primed with hexamethyldisilizane prior to coat in aYield Engineering System LP3 vacuum bake/vapor prime system.

The photoresists were spun on an SVG Coater at about 4500 rpm to producean approximate 12,500 Angstrom coating thickness. The coated wafers werethen softbaked at 110° C. for 60 seconds. The wafers were exposed on aCanon Corp. Model FPA-1550 MII Wafer Stepper equipped with a 0.43NA lenswith sigma=0.50. Coatings were then developed with HPRD-437 Developer(normality=0.250) available from Olin Hunt Specialty Products Inc. in asingle spray/puddle that included a 2.5" spray and 40" dwell.

The developed coated wafers were inspected with a Nikon MetashotMicroscope as well as an AMRAY Model 1830 SEM. Scanning ElectronPhotomicrographs at 0.7μ and 1.0μ images were measured with dialcalipers. Critical dimension data for 1.0μ is shown in Table 6 andcritical dimension data for 0.7μ feature are shown in Table 7.

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Exposure Energy vs. Critical Dimensions (μ)                                1.0μ Features                                                              Exposure Energy    Resist Type                                                (mJ/cm.sup.2)      C-7    E-2                                                 ______________________________________                                        195                1.08   1.14                                                225                1.01   1.00                                                255                0.94   0.94                                                285                0.92   0.95                                                315                0.79   0.88                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                        Exposure Energy vs. Critical Dimensions (μ)                                0.7μ Features                                                              Exposure Energy    Resist Type                                                (mJ/cm.sup.2)      C-7    E-2                                                 ______________________________________                                        195                0.72   0.73                                                225                0.65   0.62                                                255                0.60   0.56                                                285                0.59   0.56                                                315                0.39   0.48                                                ______________________________________                                    

This data in Tables 6 and 7 indicates that the resist of Example 2 canfaithfully pattern very small features necessary in state of the artmicro-device fabrication comparably with Fuji Hunt 6100 Resist.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light-sensitive composition useful aspositive-working photoresist comprising an admixture of:(a) at least onealkali-soluble binder resin; (b) at least one photoactive compound; (c)a sufficient amount of a solvent mixture comprising ethyl lactate andethyl 3-ethoxy propionate to dissolve (a) and (b);wherein the amount ofsaid binder resin is from about 60% to 95% by weight, the amount of saidphotoactive compound is from about 5% to about 40% by weight, both basedon the total solids content of said light-sensitive composition, andwherein the weight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-ethoxy propionateis from about 30:70 to about 80:20.
 2. The composition of claim 1wherein said binder resin is a phenolic novolak resin.
 3. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein said photoactive compound is ano-quinonediazide compound.
 4. The light-sensitive composition of claim 1further comprising at least one substance selected from solvents,actinic and visual contrast dyes, antistriation agents and speedenhancers.
 5. The light-sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein theweight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate is from about40:60 to about 75:25.
 6. The light-sensitive composition of claim 1wherein the weight ratio of ethyl lactate to ethyl 3-ethoxy propionateis from about 50:50 to about 70:30.
 7. The light-sensitive compositionof claim 2, wherein said phenolic novolak resin is selected from thegroup consisting of phenolic-formaldehyde resins, cresol formaldehyderesins, and phenol-cresol-formaldehyde resins.
 8. The light-sensitivecomposition of claim 3, wherein said o-quinonediazide compound isselected from the group consisting of1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, andhexa-esters of polyhydroxy compounds having at least 2 hydroxyl groups.9. The light-sensitive composition of claim 3, wherein said photoactiveo-quinonediazide compound is represented by the formula (A) shown below:##STR4## wherein R₁ to R₈ are independently hydrogen, a hydroxyl group,a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aralkyl group, anaryl group, an amino group, a monoalkylamino group, a dialkylaminogroup, an acylamino group, an alkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoylgroup, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfamoyl group, a carboxylgroup, a cyano group, a nitro group, an acyl group, and alkyloxycarbonylgroup, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, --OD, or ##STR5##(wherein R is hydrogen, or an alkyl group, and D is a1,2-naphthoquinonediazido-5-sulfonyl group or a1,2-naphthoquinonediazido-4-sulfonyl group); R₉ to R₁₂ are independentlyhydrogen or a lower alkyl group; and Z is oxygen or a single bond;provided that at least one of R₁ to R₈ is --OD or ##STR6##
 10. Thelight-sensitive composition of claim 9, wherein said photoactiveo-quinonediazide is formed by the reaction of2,2',3,3'-tetrahydro-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi(1H-indene)-5,5',6,6'7,7'-hexol with6-diazo-5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-1-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride.
 11. Thelight-sensitive composition of claim 1, wherein said alkali-solublebinder resin or resins is present in the amount of about 75% to about90% by weight and said photoactive compound or compounds is present inthe amount of about 10% to about 25% by weight, based on the totalsolids content of said light-sensitive composition.
 12. Thelight-sensitive composition of claim 1, wherein the total amount ofsolvent present is at least 50% by weight, based on the combined resinand photoactive compound weight.
 13. The light-sensitive composition ofclaim 12, wherein said amount of solvent is from about 100% to about400% by weight, based on the combined resin and photoactive compoundweight.